A mother and her 6-year-old son were killed in a crash on Lake Shore Drive Saturday night, officials said. | Photo by Kara Spak

Updated: August 18, 2012 9:11PM

A 6-year-old boy and his mom were killed in a horrific crash that shut down the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive after the Air and Water Show ended Saturday evening, officials said.

The crash happened in the 4400 block of Lake Shore Drive at 6:06 p.m., authorities said.

Police said in a statement that “a vehicle lost control while traveling northbound. The vehicle containing a mother and a child crossed the median into the southbound lanes, where it struck another vehicle.”

The boy was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m., authorities said. His mom also died.

The driver of another car whose vehicle was struck in the rear was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries where the driver was treated and released, police said. A victim in a third car was taken to Illinois Masonic with unspecified injuries.

Two heavily damaged cars could be seen in the southbound lanes Saturday night. A green Nissan appeared to have heavy damage to its front-end while the drivers’ side door of a black Honda Civic was also heavily damaged. A police officer could be seen removing bags of personal items from the Nissan.

Victor Salazar, of north suburban Zion, said he was enjoying the evening with friends at Montrose Park when they heard the collision, and a “pound, pound, pound, pound” sound. They bolted under the Wilson Avenue bridge and onto southbound Lake Shore Drive.

Salazar said his friend cut the seatbelt off a boy. Another woman was pinned in the car, he said.

“I tried to put a pillow behind [the boy’s] neck,” Salazar said. Salazar’s hands shook as he showed the beige floral hammock cushion he had put back in his backpack. “This really hurts me, a lot. What happened today is not fair.”

Paramedics arrived shortly after Salazar and he said they performed CPR on the child.

Jimmy Banuelos, Sr. was selling tacos at Jaimie’s Bar Concession in Montrose Park around 6 p.m. when he heard the collision, followed by screams. His 10-year-old son Jimmy Banuelos, Jr. said he heard brakes screeching moments before the crash.

“We heard it from all the way down here, the elder Banuelos said.

The southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive remained shut to traffic between Hollywood and Wilson as of 9 p.m.